Capsule forceps



Aug. 20, 1 929. c. N. ANDERSON CAPSULE FORCEZPS Filed Feb. 20, 1928 Car)25' 86 4937756239077 Wm AQM Patented Aug. 20, 1929.

' UNITED STATES 1,725,173 PATENT OFFICE.

CARLISLE N. ANDERSON, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO PARKE, DAVIS &COMPANY, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION OF MICHIGAN.

CAPSULE rononrs.

Application filed February 20, 1928. Serial No. 255,747.

The invention relates to an improved form of instrument adapted to beused for administering capsules to animals.

In feeding capsules to animals it is necessary that the capsule beinserted well back in the throat to insure swallowing, and except in thecase of small animals the insertion of the capsule must be made withinstruments to avoid danger of being bitten. The object of the inventionis to provide an instrument constructed in such a manner that it isinexpensive to manufacture, capable of being used efliciently withvarious sizes of capsules, capable of being easily manipulated andquickly operated to release the capsule.

In order to attain the objects above enumerated, I have provided thenovel forceps construction hereinafter more fully described andillustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a planview of the improved instrument;

Figure 2 is a side view thereof;

Figure 3 is a cross section on the line 33 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a similar section on the line 4-4 of Figure 1;

Figure 5 illustrates the use of the instrument in feeding capsules toanimals;

Figure 6 is a section on the line 66 of Figure 2.

Referring now to the construction illustrated in the drawings, theimproved instrument is preferably made from a single piece of pressedsheet metal which is fashioned into the desired configuration. The armsA and B are integrally connected by the U- shape bend C and extendoutwardly therefrom in substantially a straight line for the greaterpart of their length. At the free ends the arms are laterally curved asindicated at D forming the slightly enlarged end portions E. The arms Aand B normally diverge slightly from each other as indicated in Figure 1so that the end portions E are spaced apart for a distance greater thanthe width of the largest capsule they are adapted to grip.

Adjacent the U-shape bend C the arms are preferably fiat as indicated atF and of uniform width for suflicient distance to form a handle. Ifdesired the outer surfaces of both arms A and B may be loosened slightlyas indicated at G to provide a better gripping surface. The arms arediminished in width beyond the loosened portion G and are also dished sothat the outer surfaces are slightly rounded as indicated at H. Thus theinner surfaces I of the arms are transversely curved as indicated inFigure 3 and this hollow curved portion extends to the outer extremityof each arm. At the end portions E the metal is more deeply pressed outforming the concavities J which are adapted for receiving the roundedsurface of the capsule.

Referring to Figure 5 it will be noted that a capsule is being grippedby the forceps and the operator is about to insert the capsule into thethroat of the animal. The arms A and B are sufficiently long so that theconcave ends of the instrument can be inserted well back in the throatand the capsule may be firmly gripped by the instrument to securely holdthe same in the instrument. When the capsule is inserted to the desiredpoint in the throat it is quickly released by merely releasing themanual pressure upon the arms A and B whereupon they spring outwardlyand permit the capsuleto drop.

The instrument constructed as above described is of great practicalvalue in administering capsules to animals and it is easier to operateand cheaper to manufacture than any other instrument heretoforeconstructed for the same general purpose.

The type of capsule ordinarily used with the instrument is a solubleelastic capsule which due to its flexible nature is adapted to begripped by the concave ends and firmly held by the instrument. However,the instrument is not limited in its use for the gripping of thisparticular type of capsule but can be used with other types of capsules,pills, tablets, boluses, medicine balls and may also be useful for otherpurposes.

hat I claim as my invention is:

1. A capsule feeding instrument comprising a pair of normally divergingspring arms integrally connected by a return bent portion, said armsbeing dished to form longitudinally extending channels, the ends of saidarms being enlarged in width and pressed out to a greater depth formingcapsule gripping concavities adapted to conform to a flexible capsule.

2. A capsule feeding instrument comprising a pair of normally divergingspring arms integrally connected by a return bent portion, said armsbeing provided with a longitudinilly curved tip portion, said tipportion being dished outwardly to form a rounded inner surface forengaging a cap sule.

3. A capsule feeding instrument comprising a pair of integrallyconnected spring arms each having a flat handle portion, alongitudinally dished portion extending in alignment with said handleportion and having the free end portions laterally bent and enlarged inWidth, said free end portions being also dished to form a concave innersuriace for gripping the capsule.

4. A capsule feeding instrument comprising a pair of integrallyconnected sheet metal arms of rectangular cross section for apredetermined distance forming a handle portion, said arms being oflesser Width ,beyond said handle portions and extending in substantialalignment therewith, the outer ends of said arms being curved laterally,said outer ends being dished to form longitudinal channels and the tipsof said arms being enlarged in Width and provided with concave innersurfaces for engaging a capsule.

CA'RLISLE N. ANDERSON.

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